Altered Oliver's plans supported

Altered plans to refurbish the former Oliver's restaurant buildings in Clyde have been supported by Heritage New Zealand and Historic Places Central Otago.

At a consent hearing in Alexandra yesterday, heritage architect Jackie Gillies outlined changes to a resource consent application to the Central Otago District Council for the category 1 historic building, and others on the property.

After initially submitting in opposition to some aspects of the application, the two heritage groups backed the changes.

A further 15 submissions supported the application citing the benefit and potential contribution of another business to Clyde's development.

The applicant wants to alter parts of the existing Oliver's Restaurant building and attached former garage, and to demolish and replace an adjacent lean-to.

Council planning consultant David Whitney recommended the council grant consent to the application, subject to conditions.

The hearings panel yesterday reserved its decision.

Oliver's owners, David and Andrea Ritchie, intend to open a craft brewery, cafe, and restaurant in the premises, comprised of eight stone buildings.

Initially, plans for the lean-to replacement, which would house a brewery, included a glass shop front, transparent, but glazed with a printed graphic of the old facade.

Mr Ritchie said the aim had been to create something bold, with vitality.

They also wanted to design something which looked new, and avoid ''muddying'' it with the old.

''The design for the frontage proved controversial, but only to heritage people,'' he said.

The application now described the front as a smooth, matt black plastered facade, with an aluminium window frame, sign, lighting, and a steel planter box.

Objection by the two heritage groups was on the basis the originally proposed facade was out of keeping with the heritage value of the building.

Historic Places chairman David White's submission read that the facade was ''no more than a computer-generated sign to advertise the brewery within''.

It said the facade contravened numerous sections of the district plan, in terms of appearance, application, and form within a heritage precinct However, Mr White supported the revised proposal.

A submission by Heritage New Zealand supported the majority of the application, but opposed the design and materials of the facade, and the cladding of the former garage on the site in corrugated iron.

After receiving the submission, the applicants met Heritage New Zealand and proposed a different design with alternative cladding.

Heritage New Zealand area manager Otago and Southland Jonathan Howard said the organisation's view was that adverse affects on heritage values had been ''significantly mitigated'' by the revised proposal.

It was hoped that the council would accept the proposed amendments, and grant consent on that basis, he said.